Wet floor mopping is one of the most effective floor cleaning methods that work great for elements other than sensitive floor elements. Wet mopping is very important for removing solid dirt from the floor as dry mopping cannot remove the dirt or stains thoroughly stuck on the floor.
If you want to apply the method of wet floor mopping properly, you need to know the steps. You also need to know some additional and useful information about it, and it will make your idea clearer. Also, you will be able to understand the difference between dry and wet mopping.
The most effective wet floor mopping method will be discussed in this article to give you enough information. Not only this, with the help of this discussion, you will get the solution to all your queries. Then, start knowing.
8 Workable Steps To Mop Wet Floors Efficiently: Try Now
You need to go through some steps to mop the wet floor. Here, some efficient steps are mentioned. Complete the method with the following steps one by one:
Step-1: Gather Necessary Equipment
Before you start wet floor mopping, you need to assemble some necessary cleaning tools. These will help you do the job perfectly. Gather the following tools:
- Vacuum cleaner;
- Wet mop;
- Wash bucket and rinse bucket;
- Sponges;
- Detergent;
- Towels or thick cloth.
Step-2: Prepare The Cleaning Area
Prepare the area you want to clean. No matter if you want to clean one or more places. You have to prepare them all in the same way. Warn homeowners about the area that you are going to clean. Also, remove other items, including furniture, from the floor that may interfere with your work.
If your bed is too heavy, it does not need to be moved. Instead, you can use a piece of wood as a support underneath so that it stays high above the floor. After all, make sure that your floor is mostly empty.
Step-3: Clean The Floor Surface
Now it’s time to use the vacuum cleaner. Dirt and debris on the floor prevent wet mopping from working. So, take aside the dry dirt that can be easily removed from the floor with a vacuum cleaner. You can use the same separate dry mop in this case.
Remember that the dry mop has been removed, and never use it for wet mopping. It allows the previously removed dirt to come back to the floor slowly.
Step-4: Make The Cleaning Solution
Fill the buckets that you took with hot water because it is better than cold water. Now mix detergent with it to make a cleaner, but the amount of detergent should not be too much as it is harmful to some flooring material.
In addition, using extra detergent or soap can make it harder to remove from the floor. Again soap residue is likely to remain on the floor, and it can later create solid stains.
Step-5: Start Mopping
Now stand in this corner of your room and start mopping. It is better to use a fiber mop for wet floor mopping as it can easily reach the corner of the room. Continue to wipe the mop in front of you, clearing the right and left sides in the same way.
Insert the wet mop evenly into each corner. Clean the floor by applying pressure more than once on the area where there is deep dirt or stains. If necessary, soak the place in hot water for a while.
Step-6: Re-Soak The Mop And Clean Again
Your floor will not be completely cleaned with just one soaked mop. Especially, if you do wet mopping on the kitchen floor, it takes more time to clean. In this case, re-dip the mop in soapy water and squeeze it with your hands.
The mop should not be too wet, but keep it moist. Keep re-cleaning the areas in the same way. If there are still soft spots on the floor, rub the area with a sponge.
Step-7: Wash The Floor With Clean Water
When you are sure that the floor has been mopped properly, clean it thoroughly with clean water now. In this case, you must use hot water. Apply water in a way that soap residue or detergent does not remain on the floor.
If you delay using the water, the soap may get stuck on the floor temporarily. Don’t think that just water will clear it. Apply some pressure, and the soap will go away.
Step-8: Finally Dry Your Floor
Last but not least, one of the main steps of wet floor mopping is to dry the floor. No matter what your floor material is, it should not be watered. Wood flooring is very sensitive, and water can quickly shorten its lifespan. There are several methods of drying the floor after mopping. You can use any method of your convenience.
As soon as the floor is washed, place a towel or thick cloth on the wet floor and press to absorb the remaining water. Thus wipe the whole area with the towel. Besides, you can use a fan which allows the floor to dry more quickly.
6 Mistakes You Should Avoid While Mopping The Wet Floors:
Even after knowing the correct method of wet floor mopping, people make some mistakes. Learn about the mistakes that will keep you out of trouble:
1. Using Excessive Water:
Water is undoubtedly one of the main components of floor cleaning. You might think that using more water will clean your floor better. But this is a misconception because using too much water during mopping can cause serious damage to your flooring.
Most floor elements can withstand less water. Gradually, your floor loses its ability to survive due to excessive water use. So do not use more water than you need for mopping. Either way, do not let it sit on the floor.
2. Applying Too Much Soap/Detergent:
Soap or detergent with hot water is used during wet mopping. You probably use more detergent than you need for the best floor cleaning results. This is another inaccuracy that many people make. Soaps are alkalescent that are not suitable for many things.
After using more soap or detergent in mopping, you can wash the floor with water, but eventually, you will see some soap residue on the floor. It creates stains on the floor and makes the floor fade over time.
3. Taking Too Much Time:
Do you spend too much time on wet floor mopping? If so, change this habit now, because you are unknowingly allowing the floor to get faulty. There is a set time for mopping that you should not go outside. Some signs will tell you how fast mopping should be done.
If your floor gets a lot of hard dirt and stains, you should not let those stains stay on the floor for long. Of course, it requires a wet mopping, and also your floor should be cleaned before it’s too late.
4. Using A Labeled Floor Cleaner:
Since mopping is related to floor cleaning, many people think it is better to use a labeled floor cleaner than soap or detergent. This is absolutely a wrong idea. Floor cleaners are made with different chemicals. So, in most cases, they are not suitable for the floor.
So avoid using floor cleaners directly in mopping. A mixture of soap or detergent in hot water allows you to get a clean floor. Hence, why damage the floor with a labeled cleaner?
5. Using Dirty Mop:
Dirty mops should never be used for wet mopping. It causes the floor to get dirtier than before. The mop you use for dry mopping should not be used for wet floor mopping. Also, you should not clean the floor with the mop used outside because it already has a lot of dirt.
For wet mopping, choose a clean mop. Moreover, do not use the mop used outside the house. If there is a suspicion that there is a little dirt in the mop, before mopping the floor, wash it with water and squeeze it well. Then use it.
6. Not Drying The Floor Properly:
One of the prerequisites for getting a perfect floor after wet mopping is that it dries well after mopping. If the floor is not well dried, you can suffer in many ways. First of all, the activities of you and the occupants may be disrupted.
Second, getting wet for too long can damage your floor. The floor should not be left to dry on its own after mopping. Instead, wipe the floor as quickly as possible after absorbing the remaining water with a towel or thick cloth.
6 Necessary Tips To Mop Wet Floor Quickly: You Should Know
Just applying the method of wet mopping on the floor is not the end. If you know some tips, you will be able to do your work flawlessly. The tips are as follows:
Tip-1: Do not scrub the floor excessively during mopping because this can cause unwanted stains on the floor. It also ruins the external appearance that you would never expect.
Tip-2: Avoid using a low-quality mop as it does not allow dirt to move from your floor thoroughly. Moreover, with little use, it is destroyed very quickly.
Tip-3: Be sure to clean the floor surface before wet mopping. This will make your mopping process easier because you remove some dirt with an already dry mop.
Tip-4: Do not allow residents to roam the area during and after wet mopping. Walking on the floor in wet condition leaves footprints. Besides, soap’s water is slippery, and there is a possibility of slipping feet.
Tip-5: Different labeled floor cleaners are available in the market which should not be used on the floor as it is likely to damage the floor. Soap or detergent water is sufficient especially for mopping.
Tip-6: Use the best way to dry the floor. Do not keep the floor wet for long. Remove the water from it as soon as possible and let it air dry.
Related Questions About Wet Floor Mopping:
Is Wet Mopping On A Hardwood Floor Regularly Damaging To It?
No matter how hard the wood floor is, regular wet mopping can damage the floor very quickly. Hardwood floors are more sensitive than other flooring materials. So, the more water you use, the more it will lose its effectiveness. It is better to do dry mopping on the wood floor.
So, in the case of hardy spots, wet mopping is required. Wet mopping on hardwood floors can be done twice a week. However, after mopping, it should be ensured that it dries faster than other floor materials.
Do You Leave The Floor Wet After Mopping?
If you leave the floor to dry after wet mopping, it can react badly in most cases. As the water dries out on its own, unwanted stains form on the floor, and the floor becomes uneven. After mopping, you should not leave your floor time to dry naturally.
If you want to dry the floor in natural air, there is an effective way. When you use a dry mop or cloth, remove all the water from the floor surface. Then leave to dry in natural air. You can use the fan if you want.
How Often Should You Do Wet Mop On Your Hardwood Floor?
Frequent wet mopping on hardwood floors should be avoided. Set aside two days a week for mopping. Hardwood floors are not a problem if they are damp, but they should not be wet. Wood surfaces can be easily attacked by water.
Do not use excess water during mopping. When the water stays on the wooden floor for a while, the floor loses its perfect appearance. Also, set aside less time for mopping and drying hardwood floors than you would for any other flooring.
How Long Does It Take For Wet Floor Mopping?
For wet floor mopping, you need to spend about 35 to 50 minutes per 1000 sq. ft. It is not advisable to allocate less time for this mopping. Because the purpose of wet floor mopping is to remove dark dirt and stains from the floor. Simply, this work is quite time-consuming.
But, do not spend more time than this because you are working with soapy water. It is not advisable to use soapy water rating for any floor for a long time. Many flooring materials are sensitive to water, so it is crucial to consider the flooring material for more time mopping.
Why Are Floors Still Dirty After Wet Mopping?
People sometimes complain that they find dirt on the floor even after wet mopping, which is frustrating. There are some reasons why you are responsible. If you use extra soap with water, your floor will look dirty even after mopping because soap residue is stuck to the floor. It slowly degrades the floor by creating lines on it.
Wet mopping involves the use of soap or detergent in hot water. You may want to increase the amount of soap or detergent for better results which are not recommended. You may have to use water again to remove soap residue, but it will not be beneficial.
Can You Use A Steam Mop On A Wet Room Floor?
Steam mops work well in wet rooms. Especially when it comes to bathroom floor cleaning, it cleans and comes with quite convenient features. However, steam mops need to be plugged in, so cleaning up waterlogged areas can sometimes be risky.
Maybe for some reason, you just left it in the plugin state. In that case, it could be dangerous. Therefore, although it is convenient in some cases, other mops are more effective than using steam mops in wet mopping.
Final Thought:
Although wet floor mopping is a simple method, it claims to be done meticulously. In addition to knowing the steps, you need to know some additional information. This article has shared many significant facts with necessary instructions for wet floor mopping.
Hopefully, the method and tips will help make your wet mopping easier and more perfect. Moreover, to get a perfectly cleaned floor, you need to choose a good quality mop and prepare the cleaner properly. So, start applying the method now!
You can also read:
How To Mop Without A Mop? [A Step-by-step Guide]
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